Patience key to Lucky Sweynesse's comeback

New Paper

24-04-2025

The proof that Hong Kong is the cradle of some of the world's best sprinters could not have been better showcased in the Group 1 Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m) at the FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin on April 27.
David Hayes' Ka Ying Rising will start as the overwhelming favourite to land the spoils, while cementing his status as the World's Best Sprinter in 2025 against a Japanese four-pronged attack headed by Satono Reve.
But that mantle is not exclusive to just the 12-time winner in the HK$22 million (S$3.7 million) feature. The Shamexpress four-year-old will be sharing the stage with his predecessor, 2024 World's Best Sprinter Lucky Sweynesse.
Clearly, the feature is not being billed as a clash to find out who is the "Best of the Best" between the old and the new.
The main priority for the Cheng family, who bought Lucky Sweynesse as a Ready-To-Run 2YO from the Karaka sale in New Zealand, is the completion of a great comeback story from the horse.
Winner of the 2023 renewal of the Chairman's Sprint Prize and anointed as Hong Kong's champion sprinter in the 2022/23 season, Lucky Sweynesse last won the Group 2 Sprint Cup (1,200m) on April 7, 2024.
But victory came at a price. The now six-year-old was sidelined from races for more than a year, during which time he underwent left-fore fetlock surgery.
After two impressive winning trials recently, the Manfred Man-trained Sweynesse gelding will bid for a second Chairman's Sprint Prize win and fifth Group 1 win.
Cheng clan leader and veteran owner Cheng Ming-leung praised Man for his patience in nurturing their pride and joy back to full racing fitness.
"As a racehorse owner, patience is the key and we always have high hopes for our horse," said Cheng to the Hong Kong Jockey Club website. "Though he had to be sidelined for a long time, he recovered well and all along, his situation was very stable, we kept the faith that he will return to race one day.
"I am excited to see him make a comeback on FWD Champions Day, the same meeting when he scored in the same race two years ago.
"Having said that, I didn't rush my trainer but full credit to Man. He and his stable team have done a great job to turn things around.
"The horse is fully recovered now and is ready for the challenge."
Cheng is confident Lucky Sweynesse has the toughness to be competitive on April 27.
"His recent trials were very impressive," said Cheng. "It looks like the horse has a good heart and we are all delighted to see him coming back to his best.
"We always have high hopes on him, and hopefully, he will have a forward showing this time. I have confidence that he will finish in the frame."
Lucky Sweynesse will, however, not be partnered by Zac Purton, the jockey who knows him the best after riding him to 11 of his 16 wins, including his pinnacle in the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) in 2023.
As it was unfathomable the seven-time Hong Kong champion jockey would ever jump off Ka Ying Rising under any circumstances, another riding ace was waiting in the wings.
Cheng revealed that Kiwi superstar James McDonald threw his hat in the ring.
It was not difficult to give the nod of approval to a jockey of his stature, especially as the eight-time Sydney champion rider holds a record of one win (in the 2023 Group 1 Queen's Silver Jubilee over 1,400m) from two steers on Lucky Sweynesse.
"James contacted the stable and actively asked for the ride. He had already achieved success with my horse and, with such a top-class jockey on board, it further boosted my confidence," said Cheng.
"Of course, it will not be an easy race with a number of strong opponents including Ka Ying Rising. However, we will try our best and I hope everyone will cheer him on this Sunday."
Cheng was at Sha Tin on April 24 to take care of drawing the barrier number for Lucky Sweynesse. The last on stage, he seemed to be happy with the post he already knew he would be handed - No. 7.
As it turned out, the second-last marble - and the better of the two left - four, went to Ka Ying Rising.
"I was very, very happy to see barrier 13 come out (for Helios Express)," said Hayes. "And I thought four was the dream barrier in that scenario.
"He is a horse that overcomes barriers but you don't want to be the widest every time. He is faster than the three horses drawn inside him (A Shin Fencer, Danon McKinley and Beauty Waves).
"He'll get the rail and Zac will be able to choose whether he leads or takes a sit. If he flies the start, he might lead and take it up.
"If he jumps with them, he'll probably box-seat behind some obvious pace but that's really Zac's problem now."
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